Shobha says no to piece work

 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje is not only facing the ire of some of her Cabinet colleagues, but also the local panchayat members. However, she has taken a firm stand and refused to budge an inch.
Members of Mysore Zilla Panchayat and other taluk panchayats are up in arms against her decision to  not allow piece work in implementing developmental projects in rural areas. Instead, she has insisted on calling tenders as per the Transparency Act.
“I will not change my decision. I want good work to be done. I cannot compromise on the quality of projects by giving piece works. If they (panchayat members) want to pass a resolution against me, they are free to do so,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile, the development of rural roads in the State has got a big boost. The Centre has released an additional Rs 810 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, apart from the Rs 600 crore allocated earlier, she said. Nearly 2,700 kms of rural roads will be developed using the funds.
Reacting to Mysore Congress MP H Vishwanath’s reported statement that the State Government has failed to find a man for the post of Mysore district in-charge Minister, she quipped saying Vishwanath had his party chief Sonia Gandhi in mind while making the statement. “So, he should make the statement in Delhi instead, so that his party supremo can listen to it,” she remarked.